Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-07
WANTS MORE TINE.
APPLICATION 10 BIZ HApE FOR AruR-
TIER RKPRIxvx FOB CLUvERIUs.
Replies Of Richmond Members to Willie
Cluveriuss Circular Letter -Pri-
soner's Condition, &c.

Rev. Dr. w. II. Hatcher, pastor OF trace
Street Baptist church, who Is actIngas Clu.
verins's spiritual adviser, called upon the
Governor yesterday, but found the Cover
nor busy, and the Doctor said that he would
call again. His desife was to see Governor
Lee with reference to Cluyerius, and the
surmise Is that he means to ask for afurther
reprieve. and possibly renew the request OF
Mr. Willie Cluverius that the Governor go
10 the jail to talk TO the condemned man.
Mr.. Willie Cluyerius asked Of the Cover
nor the favor Of keeping their correspon..
dence on this subject from the public, and
the Governor has done SO; nevertheless 1t
Is well known that the Governor was nrm
IN declining the interview because be could
not believe that It would resultin throwing
any additional light on the case.
cLuvERIUs's SPIRITUAL CONDITION.
The Governors reprieve from December
10th TO January the 14th was only granted
upon the earnest solicitation OF DIR. Hatcher,
who represented shat Cluverius had been
up 10 that time so engrossed in preparing
his case for Executive action that really he
had not bad the necessary time for spirit.
ual preparation. The same can be said
now.
CluverIus has from the beginning de-
luded himself with false hopes. When he
was arrested and brought here 10 Rich.
mopd be said that he did not know what
his friends would think when they heard
that he wss arrested on such grave
charge :" but" he added, ait viii be all
RIGHT to.morrow. when 20 before the Po.
lice Justice" He seemed confident OF an
acauittal by the jury; thought surely ne
was going 10 get a new trial from the Su-
preme Court believed that the Supreme
Court would grant him rehearing; and,
finally, put his trust in the Governor. lie
produced no evidence 10 show that the
iury and the courts erred, and consequent
ly the Governor could not interfere.
And yet he hopes.
THE LEGISLATURE.
So far as his appel to the members OF the
General Assembly is concerned, that has
been a great failure. What could he have
expected OF the Legislature anyhow
Not more than seventh or a sixth
OF the members have responded Ia
voiably to the appeal. II majority
OF them had Joined in a petition to
the Governor for further reprieye II Is
not At ali certain that the Governor would
have felt obligated, even in courtesy, TO
defer TO their wishes. They have not ln-
formed themselves about the case. The
Governor has. IL is matter not for legis-
latlve action; but for judicial and execu'
tive. Besides, though thousands OF men
claim TO be well.iniormed about the
case, II is hardly wide OF the mark to say
not one In thousand really Is. Even
where man read every "scrap OF evil
dence" as published, aud could give 1t
proper weight and application, 1t does not
follow that he Is posted like the jury, the
trial-judge, the Supreme Court, and the
Governor. A knowledge OF the topoSra-
ply of this city, especially OF hereseryolr-
grounds. Is almost indispensably requisite
10 n thorough understanding OF the case,
and one or more important pieces oil evi-
dence produced before the jury were alto
gether uDpublishable.
However, the members generally nave
declined to sign. What is more, there Is
at this moment no immediate prospect oil
legislative session. The reyisers OF the
Code are here, and it appears that their
work is not sufficiently advanced to warrant
the calling OF an extra session on that ac.
count.
The upsbot OF It all Is (and 1t is more
kindness than cruelty to the prisoner 10 say
III that unless there Is some remarkaoie
revelation made the sentence OF the law
will most certainly be executed on the l4tn
instant.
THE RICHMOND MEMBERS.
Comics OF the circular OF Mr.. Willie
Cluyeyius were received by the Richmond
members OF the Legislature yesterday. A
Dispatch reporter called on each OF them
last night, except Hon. James y. Dunlop.
who is confined at home bv sickness, and
Hon, Henry Carter, aud their expressions
OF opinion are given below:
Senator Ellyson don't propose to take
any action whatever in the matter.
Senator Lovenstein: / do not expect 10
rcply 10 the circular at all. Icould not do so
fayorably, and see no use Of writing that |
cannot sign the petition. don't think we
meaning the members Of the General AS
sembly) have anything to do with the mat
ter.
Hon. James ID. Patton, member OF the
House OF Delegates, was not seem last
night: but in conversation with DiSpdtch
reporter several days ago said that he
would do nothing in the premises.
Delegate Starke: This gentleman said
that be had written letter TO Willie Gu
yerius. His view was that as legislator
he had nothing in the world TO do with the
case. hut that as a citizen he would sign a
petition for further reprieve.
The circular which was sent to General
Wickham (senator from Hanover) by w.
b. CIuyerius was sent to the Governor yes
terday with the following endorsement
{" Respectfully referred to General Lee,
Governor OF Virginia. The Legislature oil
Virginia has nothing to do with this matter,
and il 1t had, should only confirm your nc
lion in the matter, which meets with my
entire and complete approval.
"Yours truly, w. WICRHAM."
THE BOOK.
CIuyerius's book has not yet been DIS
posed Of, nor has any arrangement been
made for publishing ii.
The trouble, so far rs selling the Ms. Is
conceine d, is that il the prisoner should at
the last make confession the book would
be worthless as a salable article. True, he
has so far shown no disposition at all TO
make any admissions or confession, but
would-be purchasers take into consideration
The possibility hat he may yet do so. IL Is
believed that Cluyerius has neyer-to coun-
sci or 20 any one made confession. 10
all he has declared his innocence; but on
the other hand he never has given up all
hope. When that time comes he may pur-
sue different course.
1t is one OF the rumors Of the times that
he was advised by some OF his personal
friends that denial that he never saw
Lillian Madison on March 13. 1855.
would never be believed. and that (if 1t
was true) he ought TO admit that he was
with her during the day and left her at the
American Hotel at night. This, the report
goes on to say, he declined to do.
Yesterday the prisoner Vas as ealm ana
cheerful as usual. His face shows few
W. - 1870 a,d raman,h.rin0 that